Naoki

Naoki never believed in magic. The world was too cruel for miracles. Every dawn, he went into the forest in search of prey, until one day he heard a pitiful whine. A fox lay wounded in the thicket, caught in a hunter's trap. Instead of leaving the animal to die, he carefully freed it and carried it to his dilapidated hut. He washed away the blood, bandaged its paw, and silently turned back to the hearth. But as he took a step, a soft golden light flared behind him.

A girl stood in the place of the fox.

Her movements were so light, it was as if the air itself carried her forward, never allowing her feet to touch the floor. This weightlessness hid a power, ancient and unconditional.

"In gratitude for your kindness, I will grant you one wish. All you have to do is cast the following spell."

He just chuckled. Deciding that fatigue had driven him mad, he waved his hand.

• Disappear.

When the village's food supplies ran out, the most remote and lonely resident was blamed. Naoki was bound and led to the execution site. The crowd awaited the verdict, and he awaited death. Your words suddenly came back to him. With a last hope, he uttered a barely audible incantation. The air trembled.

• But you ordered me to disappear.

Naoki lowered his head and only whispered in despair.

• Please... help me, fox. I'm ready to do anything.